Self-prcpelled toy



Sept. 16; 1930. PARKHURST 1,775,914

' SELF PROPELLED TOY Filed Jan. 27, 1927 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INIZENTOR. I Malcolm KPar/(hunsf.

\ BY "5W 6 TTORNEY Se t. 16, 1930, M. K. PARKHURST SELF PRQPELLED TOY.

Filed Jan. 2'7, 1927 2 Sheats-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Malcolm K. Park/runs f'.

A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1930 fil'ATES earner series MALCOLM K. PARKHURST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 LYNDON W. BURCH, 0F YONKERS, NEW YORK SELF-PRGPELLED TGY Application filed January 27, 1927.

-This invention relates to toys of the selfpropelled type in which a member is manually tensed in such a way as to react upon a driving member when the tension is being relieved.

The object of this invention is to simplify construction, add to efficiency in operation and render present known means more adaptable for cooperating with each other than heretofore. More particularly it relates to self-propelled toy water or land craft, the propulsion being applied to a rotary paddle or propeller at the rear of the toy and the paddle or propeller having roller elements whereby it may be used on smooth surfaces.

Other objects of this invention are to utilize resilient bands of rubber elastic or other equivalent material for mounting the paddle members in such a way that less friction will occur than would in case of the ordinary type of bearing connections. These resilient members may be readily renewed and fastened to the paddle or propeller member in case of breakage or weakening.

A further object is to provide means for tensing these resilient members by means of a ligature snubbed around the propeller member in such a way that pulling upon one end will rotate the propeller member in a reverse direction from which it turns in propelling the toy and as soon as the pull is released from the ligature member it may be retracted back into the toy without rotating the propeller.

A further object is to provide a float operated latching arrangement so arranged that as soon as the toy is placed in the water the propeller member will be released and the toy will be operated.

A still further object is to provide a bearing for the propeller member to relieve radial strain upon the resilient members while these members are being tensed. Owing to the fact that this bearing might be a latent cause of friction it is so designed as to be operative as a support for the propeller only during the tensing operation and not during the pro polling operation.

Further and more definite objects and ad vantages will be described in connection with Serial No. 163,858.

the following specification, claims and drawings in which Figure 1 represents a side view of the toy;

Figure 2 shows a top view with a part broken away to show the interior arrangement;

Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the rear of the device in which the ligature or cord member has been retracted for the tensing operation;

Figure 4 shows the arrangement of parts when a float operated catch is utilized to prevent the propeller from operating while the device out of water;

Figure 5 shows a detail of the cord or ligature member as it is snubbed around the propeller member; and

Figure 6 shows a detail of the catch memher 1, in Figure 1, is the main body or frame member of the toy and 2 is the keel attached at the bottom for keeping the toy on a definite course when used in the water. The main housing 3 together with the pilot house 4: and the stack 5 enclose one end of the tensing cord or ligature 6 with its retracting ele ment 7 attached to a'fastening device 8 which is fastened into the frame member 1.

The paddle or propeller device 9 is mounted atthe rear of the toy and is so arranged as to propel the toy forward after being wound up and released. It has also a rim 10 so that when placed on a flat surface it will roll freely, the front end being supported by the roller 11 also mounted in the frame member 1. The tensioning of the propeller is accomplished by pulling the knob member 26 fastened at one end of the cord member 6. The roller member 11 is mounted on an axle 12 so that it is free to rotate as shown in Figure 2 without friction against the sides of the frame member 1. This roller is made in a flat form so that it will cooperate with the keel to keep the toy on a more definitecourse when used in water.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 2 the paddle 9 is mounted in the opening 13 of the frame member 1. This opening is made large enough so that there is no possibility of the paddles rubbing on the frame. This fastening means in the paddling members.- It 1s also desirable to insert these fastening members 15 in countersunk holesiat the ends f of the paddles so that a longer tensing mem her 14 maybe used and greater resilience obtained. w v

Between tlle two paddle members'is a partial supporting bearing 16, as more clearly shown in Figure 5, for preventing any undue knob 26 is being withdrawn in the act of tenslomng. As can be seen the cord 6 fastened to knob 26 is snubbed around the spool mem- 'ber 17 which, is integrally connected tothe paddle t); il henthe knob 26 is withdrawn the spring action of member 7 is suiiicientto prevent the cord'6 from sliding freely around the spool 17 which causes the spool and pro peller to be rotated in a reverse direction from that taken by it while it is running freely. The tensioning member 7 and the resilient members 14 might as well be a metallic spring instead of the simple elastic members shown.

As is also shown more clearly in Figure 5 s in addition to the friction between the spool 17 and the cord 6 produced by tension memher 7, the friction between the supporting bearing 16 and the cord 6 caused by the rotating action produces a still further increase in 1 fr ction between the cord 6 and spool 17.

This friction .also'takes place during the .tonsing action but not during the propelling 'a'ctlon. The reason for th s is because as soon as the resilient members 14 beginthelr action "a counteracting force'is applied at the bottom of the propeller 9 to force it upwards and toward the front of the toy away from the the cord member 6 from-further friction with the spool 17-and allows the paddle to-rotate freely. I v Figure 3 shows the position of parts when the knob member 26 is retracted and the tensionlngmember 7 is extended. I V "peller 9 is not rotated suflicientlv with one If the prowithdra'wal of the knob 26 to tension the resilient, members 14 sufliciently, the lJIO-r' pellermay beheld from rotationandv the bla'de'of the propeller 9 in such awayas to prevent its being rotated through the action 7 of'members 1% but notpreventing it from being rewound by knob 26. This tlatch memher is pivoted at'20 and has a stop pin 21 to prevent it from rotating too far towards the faxi's ofthe propeller Sacha way thatthe s serve as a bearing propeller might possibly throw it clear of the V i catching position. This might be possible if the latch were swung inwards so'that the blade of the pro aellerwould hit the nose 22 of the catch meni er 19 and knock it out of its catching position.

V The catch'member isprovided with an arm i i 23 to which is attached a flat-slab of light material 24, As soon asthe toyis placed in the water it is obvious that the ioat2wi-ll immediately attempt to, rise as far "as pos- V "sible towards the surface'of the water; This s strain on the resilient members 14 when the action will release the cat-ch memberand per mit the propeller 9 to rotate freely through the action of resilientmembers 1 This catch arrangementmay also be useful in tensioning rmembers- 14 by automatically preventing re:

position which would produce the same result desired, such as, in a position where it might contact withthe main framel ofthetoy, It is also provided with a pivot hole '25 to tenedto the keel'2. p In the operation of the device itis only necessary to tension the resilient members 14- by pulling knob 26. This tightens the cord on pivot 20 which is-fas 6 about the spool 17 against the retractile ele- 9 ment 7to such a degreethat it rotates it in a clockwise direction as -seen in F g. 1. In addition toth e friction of the cordon the spool due tothe tension caused by element 7 there is also a tendency to push the spool 17 against the supporting bearing 16. This pressure v I also causes the cord'6 which is-betweenthe bearing member 16. .Tlns in turn releases twoto wrap itself still'more tightly around the spool, adding to the friction-already caused by the retractile element 7. a r

This rotation of the spool 17wincls the.

propellers to twist resilient elements l l. As

soon as the knob 26 is fully withdrawn the paddles are manually or otherwise held, as

bylatch 18, and the knob is released. Owing to the pullof tensionm'ember 7 the spool 17 is, drawn slightly away from itsbearing '16,

and since there is nothing'toihold the end 26 of cord 6 it is immediately retracted by tension member 7 until it again touches or nearly touches the end of keel 2 through wlnchcore ing the members 14.

6 slides without turning paddles 9orrele a s If theresilient elements are not now su'fficiently wound this act1on can be repeated pol the toy as far as desired.

24 or otherwise it immediately begins-to rotate in a counter clockwise direction. The

thru th paddle in t e water aesins spool 17 to be slightly shifted away from bearing 16 thereby relieving it of any possible friction, T he same is true when it is placed on asr'n'o-oth surface. It is also raised somewhat by its buoyancy or the weight of the toy depending upon whether it isfloating or rolling. In the rolling state the front end is supported by the wheelll. The wheel being made flat also aids in keeping the toy on a constant course when floating. In case of breakage or weakening of resilient members let they may be readily placed by unhooking from fastening means and a new member slipped in place. t is r preferable to use two or more of such members, one or more on each end of the paddle, but one only may be used, in which case it would have to run through a hole in spool 17 and the full width of the boat.

Itis not intended to be limited to the exact arrangements as shown but it is intended that any of a full range of equivalents may be substituted for any of the elements of the combination such as the use of a thrust propeller rather than the paddle arrangement disclosed, etc. In such a case the propeller would be arranged at right angles to the position shown and the resilient members 14 would be located towards the front and at the rear of the toy with the rewinding knob 26 arranged at the side. In such a case the bearing 16, would have to be arranged on some other member than the keel.

Having described my invention I wish to be limited only by the extent indicated and the combinations expressed in the following claims:

1. In a self propelling vehicle, resilient elements, a rotatable member supported by the resilient elements, means for tensing said elements consisting of a cord snubbed around the rotatable member, an elastic means, one end of the cord being attached to said elastic means for retracting it when the other end is released.

2. In a self propelling vehicle, resilient elements, a rotatable member supported by the resilient elements, means for tensing said elements consisting of a cord snubbed around the rotatable member, one end of the cord being attached to an elastic device for r"- tracting it when the other end is released, said rotatable member having both rolling and liquid propulsion parts and a bearing for supporting the rotatable member when being acted upon by the cord to tense the resilient members.

3. In a self propelling vehicle, resilient elements, a. rotatable member supported by the resilient elements, means for tensing said elements consisting of a cord snubbed around the rotatable member, an elastic means, one end of the cord being attached to said elastic means for retracting it when the other end is released, and rotatable means mounted on the front portion of the vehicle.

l. In a toy boat, a rotatably mounted propeller, means for rotating the propeller comprising an elastic member capable of being rotatably tensed, said member also serving to keep one end of the propeller shaft in proper radial alignment, a catch device for holding the propeller stationary and a buoyant means operatively related to said catch device.

5. In a self propelling vehicle, resilient elements,a rotatable member supported by the resilient elements, means for tensing said elements consisting of a cord snubbed around the rotatable member, one end of the cord being attached to an elastic device for retracting it when the other end is released, a keel on the vehicle having a slot in its tail portion, the cord being placed in the slot and a knob at the end of the cord to prevent it from passing through the slot.

6. In a self propellin vehicle, resilient elements, a rotatable member supported by said resilient elements, means for tensing said elements consisting of a cord snubbed around the rotatable member, an elastic means, one end of the cord being attached to said elastic means for retracting it when the other end is released, the rotatable member having countersunk openings at its ends, connection means in said openings for connecting the resilient elements.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification this th day of January, 1927.

MALCOLM K. PARKI-IURST. 

